Release Detail

November 23, 1998 - Come To Our City And See Our Tree,
New Yorkers Tell Quinnipiac College Poll;
Smaller Macy's Parade Balloons Are A Good Idea

New Yorkers are no Scrooges. By an 89 - 10 percent margin, they would encourage out-of-
towners to visit during the holidays, according to a Quinnipiac College Poll released today.

In an open-ended question, where respondents can list up to three things they would
recommend about New York City during the holiday season, 57 percent point to Rockefeller
Center or the skating rink or the Christmas Tree. Another 19 percent say Radio City Music
Hall or Rockettes or the Holiday Spectacular.

A total of 32 percent point to the theater or Broadway or 42nd Street or Times Square.

Museums get 15 percent of the choices, followed by shopping at 10 percent and the
Statue of Liberty with 10 percent. The Empire State Building gets 8 percent and the World
Trade Center gets 6 percent, while Central Park gets 7 percent and Manhattan in general gets
7 percent. St. Patrick's Cathedral or churches get 3 percent.

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Fuhgeddaboudit. Not one vote for chestnuts, or
for Jack Frost nipping at your nose. But New Yorkers would refer visitors to Rockefeller
Center and The Big Tree," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac College Polling
Institute.

"Everybody knows, except for that 10 percent who must be Grinches, that there's no
place like New York for the Holidays."

While 57 percent of New Yorkers have been to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at
least once, 21 percent plan to go this year.

By a 79 - 16 percent margin, New Yorkers say it's a good idea to have smaller balloons
in this year's parade to reduce the risk of accidents.

"Smaller is smarter, New Yorkers say. They remember last year's accident at the
Thanksgiving Day Parade and they applaud the idea of reducing the size of the big balloons,"
Carroll said.

From November 10 - 16, Quinnipiac College surveyed 920 New York City residents
who say they are registered voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent. The
Quinnipiac College Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion surveys in
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research.

For additional data: www.quinnipiac.edu

21. Would you encourage someone who does not live in New York City to visit
New York City during the holiday season or not?

Tot Men Wom

Yes 89% 90% 88%

No 10 9 12

DK/NA 1 1 -

22. Regardless of whether or not you would encourage someone to visit, what
would you say are the best things for visitors to see or do in New York City
during the holiday season? (Column percentages may total over 100% since
up to three responses were allowed)